Mortarboard cap



July 141 H. 1. GELVIN MORTARBOARD CAP Filed Aug. 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MORTARBOARD CAP Filed Aug. 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iiga ' INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Patented July 8, 194-1 o 'r'r MORTARBOARD CAP Harold I. Gclvin, Champaign, 111., assignor to Collegiate Cap and Gown Company, a corporation of Illinois 7 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in mortarboard caps of the usual type consisting of a fiat rectangular top and a crown.

My invention relates more particularly to an improved method of constructing the same and to an improved cap which will be much more durable and have a great many other advantages not found in mortarboard caps on the market at the present time.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved method of constructing mortarboard caps, and an improved mortarboard cap.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cap so constructed that the crown is easily detachable from the mortarboard top, thereby making it possible to remove the crown whenever it is necessary to wash or dry-clean the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of the type described in which the crown is fastened to the top by simple screw members which are easily accessible, yet which in the finished product are so arranged that they do not detract in any way from the apthat the mortarboard and crown may be more 53 easily secured together, more firmly secured together and in a finished cap have an unusually neat and attractive appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein the size of the cap or other desirable indicia is provided in such a way that the same can not be removed or loosened by reason of rough handling or long usage.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved mortarboard construction wherein a reinforcing member is fixedly secured around the perimeter of the same to provide the desired stiffness and rigidity in the board.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, upon which Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the cardboard or other board which forms the base of the mortarboard, showing the metallic fastener about the edge of the same;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the board taken on the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the board similar to Fig. 1 showing the first covering of cloth after it has been applied;

Fig. 4 is a similar perspective view showing the completed mortarboard;

Fig. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the cloth crown showing the openings through which the same is fastened to the mortarboard;

Fig. 6 is a front perspective view of the rigid disc which is provided in the crown showing upon its face the size of the particular cap;

Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of a Celluloid or other transparent disc which is applied over the rigid disc shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a front cross sectional view of a complete cap and board assembly; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a finished cap embodying the improvements.

In the embodiment of my invention which I have illustrated, in Fig. 1 I have shown the cardboard or other stiff reinforcing board In provided about its periphery with a metallic wire i2 that is fastened together by welding or otherwise at the point M. After the wire has been placed about the board, I provide strips of paper or other covering i6 about the edge of the board I ii and extending towards the center upon both sides of the board. I also provide a plurality of nut members i8 fastened through the board in any desirable manner about the central opening 20 in the board ill. The nut members l8 may be provided with an internal thread'22 to receive the screw members 24 (Fig. 8).

After the board has been partially assembled in the manner described I provide a coating of glue or other adhesive upon both sides of the board and fasten a sheet of any desirable type or quality of cloth 26 about the same. The cloth may be cut so that upon being folded over the board and completely covering one side, it provides the four inward folds 26a upon the opposite side. After this cloth covering has been applied upon the board, I next provide a cloth covering 28 which may be of the desired weight,

texture and color of the finished cap. The covering 28 is also folded over one side of the board and provided with folds 28a upon the opposite or bottom side of the board. A comparatively thickfelt washer 36 may be provided on the inside of the board and a button or other-ornamental element 32 may be fastened to the same upon the outside of the cap by a suitable fastener member 33.

The crown 36 is formed in the usual manner of a comparatively heavy and rigid cloth of the same color as the covering 28, and is provided with an opening 38 having a reinforced edge Ml about the same. The edge 40 may be provided with a plurality of openings 42 of a size and spaced to coincide with the nut members IS.

The disc 44 shown in Fig. 6 may be Bakelite, cardboard or other suitable material and be of a shape and size to fit snugly within the crown 36. The disc 44 is also provided with the openings 46 arranged to coincide with the positions of the nut members H3. The transparent disc '18 may be exactly the same size as the disc 44, and is preferably colored so that advertisement or other indicia may be printed upon the same. I provide a window portion uncolored so that size indicia such as the number '7 on the disc 44 may be visible through the same. This disc also contains openings 52 spaced to coincide with the position of the nut members [8.

In Fig. 8 I have shown the assembled mortar board and crown. It will be seen that the same is assembled by placing the crown over the nut members IS, the same passing through the openings 42 previously described. The discs M and 46 are then positioned over the bolt members It, and the screw members 24 are screwed into a firm holding position. In the manner which I have described the crown and mortar board are held together firmly and neatly, and the size of the assembly is visible to prospective wearers.

Since most of the mortarboard caps are rented to various schools throughout the country for graduation exercises, and since after each use it is necessary to clean the crown before using again, it is obvious that applicant has provided a simple way in which to separate the mortarboard from the crown for this purpose. The assembly or disassembly of the mortarboard from the crown is accomplished in a very short time by anyone.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown, and I do not wish tolimit myself in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a mortarboard of a crown member having side walls, an opening to receive the head of a wearer, the top of the crown member being open, an inwardly turned ledge about said top opening and means associated with said mortarboard for shaping the crown member to conform to its outline and for fastening the crown member and mortarboard together.

2. In a mortarboard cap construction, the combination of a cloth covered rigid mortarboard, a plurality of fastener members secured thereto, a crown having an opening therethrough, a reinforced perimetrical ledge about said opening, a plurality of openings coinciding with the location of said fasteners in said ledge, a shield member, indicia on said shield member showing the size of said assembly, and a decorative shield member having a transparent portion overlying said indicia, and removable screw members associated with said fasteners, all of said parts adapted to be connected together by said screw members, said crown capable of being removed for cleaning.

3. In a mortarboard cap construction, the com bination of a cloth covered rigid mortarboard, said board having a stifi wire fastened about its periphery, a plurality of fastener members secured to said board, a crown having an opening therethrough, a reinforced perimetrical ledge about said opening, a plurality of openings coinciding with the location of said fasteners in said ledge, a shield member, indicia on said shield member showing the size of said assembly, a decorative shield member having a transparent portion overlying said indicia, and removable screw members associated with said fasteners, all of said parts adapted to be connected together by said screw members, said crown capable of being removed for cleaning.

4. In a mortarboard cap construction, the combination of a cloth covered rigid mortarboard, said board having a stiff wire fastened about its periphery, a plurality of fastener members secured to said board, removable screw members therefor, a crown having an opening there through, a reinforced perimetrical ledge about said opening, a plurality of openings coinciding with the location of said fasteners in said ledge, and a shield member in said crown against said ledge, all of said parts adapted to be connected together by said removable screw members associated with said fasteners, said crown capable of being removed for cleaning.

5. In a mortarboard cap construction, the combination of a cloth covered rigid mortarboard, a plurality of fastener members secured thereto, removable screw members associated therewith, a crown having an opening therethrough, a reinforced perimetrical ledge about said opening, a plurality of openings coinciding with the location of said fasteners in said ledge and a rigid shield member adapted to be placed in said crown overlying said ledge and conforming the crown to its shape, all of said parts adapted to be connected together by said removable screw members associated with said fasteners, said crown capable of being removed for cleaning.

6. In a cap of the character described, the combination of a rigid mortarboard, a separable crown, said crown having an opening therethrough, an inwardly turned perimetrical ledge about said opening, a shield member adapted to fit in the inside of said crown to shape the same according to the size of the shield member, said shield member overlying said ledge and positioning the same against said mortar board, and removable fasteners for securing said shield, crown and mortarboard together.

7. In a cap of the character described, the combination of a rigid mortarboard, a separable crown of flexible material, said crown having an opening therethrough and an inwardly turned perimetrical ledge at said opening, a rigid shield member adapted to fit in the inside of said crown and conform the crown to its shape, said shield member overlying said ledge and positioning the same against said mortarboard, aligned openings in said crown and said ledge and fasteners ex tending through said openings for securing said shield, crown and mortarboard together.

H. I. GELVIN. 

